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Injury to nerves can result from exposure to common household and shop chemicals. Solvents, cleaning supplies, hobby supplies as well as agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, acaricides, and fungicides may penetrate the skin and enter the body.

Because these chemicals are freely available to anyone willing to buy them, an individual may be drawn into a false sense of security as it relates to the safety of these agents. Unfortunately, many of these commonly used compounds are allowed to contact the skin, and many of these chemicals can cause tremendous damage.

Due to the nature of the skin, low molecular weight compounds quickly penetrate the skin and enter the blood steam. The blood itself affords some protection from many of these chemicals through the presence of a number of available enzymes, and often, this protection is entirely satisfactory. Unfortunately, these enzyme systems do not protect from many of the hydrocarbons and petroleum distillates, and afford little, if any protection from heavy metals, which are often found in some fuel oils, lubricants and herbicides.

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The effect of the chemicals can be immediate, as in the case of nerve gasses, or it can occur slowly, insidiously, over time. The nervous system is probably the most sensitive organ system in the body, as it pertains to solvent and pesticide toxicity. Over time, exposure to these chemicals results in measurable quantities in the blood stream, and certain organs and tissues can be slowly and irreversibly damaged.

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Burning of the hands and feet, similar to that of diabetes may be the first symptom. Tingling sensations, weakness, difficulty maintaining balance, and memory problems may occur.

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